Madigan declares legislative session a success

January 12, 2011

A new crop of House lawmakers was sworn in today as Democratic Speaker Michael Madigan reflected on the last two years that started with lawmakers kicking a governor out of office and ended just hours ago with a historic vote to increase taxes.

"The recent session of the General Assembly was among the most controversial, the most contentious, and yes, one of the most successful," Madigan said shortly after he was formally elected to a 14th term as speaker. He ticked off a long list of accomplishments in the last two-year session of the legislature, including moving up the primary date that "greatly helped" President Barack Obama win office, passing ethics measures in the wake of ex-Gov. Rod Blagojevich's impeachment, implementing sweeping nursing home and pension reforms as well as approving civil unions for same-sex couples and abolishing the death penalty.